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In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are instances when residents are cared for by new or temporary staff or need to be transferred without family to accompany them.  As staff work to provide the best possible care to residents, a brief information sheet about the individual that can be kept in the person’s room or apartment for easy reference can be very helpful.  

A newly-formed Democratic task force in the U.S. House is pushing Congress to immediately distribute $100 million in funding to aid infection control efforts in senior care settings. Among the priorities:  

According to a news report, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be direct shipping PPE – masks, gowns, gloves, eye protection – to every one of the 15,400 nursing homes in the nation.  While this forthcoming action is welcome, it is not nearly enough. It is unacceptable to not provide PPE to ALL senior care and living providers.   

Senator Karin Housley, chair of the Minnesota Senate Family Care and Aging Committee, called on Governor Tim Walz’s administration to immediately implement guidelines for widespread testing at the state’s long-term care facilities.   

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is conducting focused infection control surveys in Housing with Services (HWS)/Comprehensive Home Care communities.  

Knowing what PPE to use continues to be one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from members. A new chart from MDH brings clarity to this hot topic. 

LeadingAge Minnesota is excited to announce that Kari Everson, RN, BSN, MSN, MHA, LNHA, has officially joined our team as our Director of Clinical Care and Nurse Consultant.  

As testing COVID-19 testing ramps up in Minnesota, many providers have requested guidance about when and how employers can require their employees to undergo testing. 

Efficiently and effectively train caregivers using the new Basic Care Aide Curriculum from EduCare – available at no cost to all providers in Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued guidance and clarification relating to nursing assistant training requirements, providing flexibility on hiring and training practices for caregivers in skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 emergency. Today we provide clarification on what this means for providers and share news of a new Basic Care Aide position we are creating with a FREE curriculum for members.  

The U.S. Senate yesterday approved $484 billion to provide from the effects of COVID-19. The bill includes $75 billion for personal protective equipment, $25 billion for testing and $310 million in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. It is no clear at this time whether the funds for PPE will be prioritized for nursing homes and assisted living.  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has posted an updated form and FAQ about reimbursement for COVID-19 related costs on the Nursing Facility Provider Portal.  

This week we link you to six tools we provide over the past week: Surge Assessment; updated decision trees for the Confirmed Case Checklist and Managing a Resident Admission from a Hospital; a flow chart of E-FMLA and E-PSL; new guide for Independent Living and Housing with Services; and a messaging and letters to the editor for adult day providers. 

Adding humor and lightness to daily staff messages or sharing with your residents can help during the COVID-19 crisis. Based on a member request, we’ve found a few resources that could inject some levity into your day and for your team.  

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is accepting applications for $200 million in funding through the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) last week announced seven nursing homes have been approved for moratorium exceptions construction projects in the latest round of available funding. Ten of the eleven submissions, and six of the seven selected, were LeadingAge Minnesota members so we are excited to see their interest in improving the environment for the people they serve.  

In a move to support services and staffing in response to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) issued guidance to lead agencies regarding EW customized living rate protocols. 

All providers are encouraged to attend the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) weekly COVID-19 webinar for Long-Term Care. MDH epidemiologists and clinicians will provide up-to-date information and guidance, answer questions, and address concerns. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in an April 19 Quality, Safety & Oversight memo (QSO-2026-NH) that nursing homes will soon be subject to two new reporting requirements – submitting communicable disease data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and providing COVID-related notifications to residents and resident representatives.

It has been five weeks since COVID-19 came into our lives – five weeks that for many of you probably seem like a lifetime. As new information and guidance pours in nearly every day, I know you have been working with a profound sense of urgency to keep your residents safe and to ensure that their lives, even without visits from family or opportunities to engage in the day-to-day activities of community, are full of love and human connection. 

As you are aware, all Ombudsmen staff currently provide a virtual presence to do their part during this time of crisis. Proactive outreach to residents is accepted and supported at the Ombudsmen federal level and programs across the country are pursuing this to fulfill our mandate that residents have regular and timely access to the services provided through the Ombudsman program. This includes support to Resident/Family Councils.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) yesterday posted an RFP for $150 million in funding for providers to prepare for and respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. Members are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. 

Several new resources are available to help your organization recruit displaced workers as COVID19 exacerbates the pre-existing workforce crisis.   

The recently completed Long-Term Care Imperative Housing with Services (HWS) legislative survey showed worse results on both vacancies and turnover of staff than in 2018. The data from this survey is from 2019, so it does not show the likely significant impact of the current COVID-19 statewide emergency on the workforce situation. Key results of the survey include:  

The federal COVID-19 relief bill known as the CARES Act includes benefits that go beyond payments to individuals and financial assistance to health care providers.  One of the lesser known benefits is a temporary suspension of interest accrual and monthly payments on some student loans. 

LeadingAge continues to urge various program offices within HUD, and the agency at large, to provide further support and guidance for housing providers serving older adults during this health and economic emergency.  

Applications for the Dual Training Grant Program are being accepted through May 8. Approximately $2.7 million is available to support the related instruction component of dual-training programs in your organization. 

Elder Voice Family Advocates has expressed their thanks and appreciation to those on the front line of keeping seniors safe during COVID-19. 

In the past week, LeadingAge MN has added 5 new tools to our COVID-19 Resource Library focused on surge assessment and preparation, cohorting, dementia care and facemasks. We have also updated two key resources: confirmed case containment checklist and managing a resident admission from a hospital decision tree.   

Investing in the professional development of the aging services workforce is more important now than it has ever been. The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is offering over $30,000 in scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of our member organizations for 2020.